Artificial Sweeteners Harm Gut Bacteria

Artificial sweeteners make it more difficult for your gut bacteria to digest sugars, increasing the chances of contracting type II diabetes. In some cases, because artificial sweeteners are not made of sugar, the body begins to produce extra quantities of natural sugars, further saturating the gut with harmful levels of glucose.

In a study recently conducted in Israel, when individuals introduced artificial sweeteners into their diet such as saccharine (Sweet'n Low), their bodies had poorer glycemic responses. The authors of the study theorize that artificial sweeteners change the composition of gut bacteria such that sugar becomes more difficult to digest.

A team of Canadian researches observed similar but more striking results in mice. When artificial sweeteners took the place of sugar in the mice's diet, their bodies registered a decrease in sugar intake. In response, a greater quantity of the short-chain fatty acid propionate was generated, which is highly involved in creating natural sugars.

In the American diet, sugar is used as an easy way to achieve good tasting food. But eating healthy can be equally tasty, and preparing better food will help you feel more energetic. In his Big Think interview, Dr. Steven Masley explains how to improve the taste of what you eat each day: